Which winter tyres?
Discussion
I know its still August but I've been thinking of getting a set of winter tyres for my Mk5 Golf. I currently have 225/55/R16 and I dont know whether its sensible to simply replace the tyre and use the same wheel or get a new set of rims to go with the tyre.
I suppose its sensible to get a new set of wheels and tyres but which tyres are best? Also, is it better to get Steel wheels instead of alloys? Im not keen on having to ditch my pretty alloys!!
Any suggestions are appreciated!!!
Cheers,
Lemons
I suppose its sensible to get a new set of wheels and tyres but which tyres are best? Also, is it better to get Steel wheels instead of alloys? Im not keen on having to ditch my pretty alloys!!
Any suggestions are appreciated!!!
Cheers,
Lemons
24lemons said:
I know its still August but I've been thinking of getting a set of winter tyres for my Mk5 Golf. I currently have 225/55/R16 and I dont know whether its sensible to simply replace the tyre and use the same wheel or get a new set of rims to go with the tyre.
I suppose its sensible to get a new set of wheels and tyres but which tyres are best? Also, is it better to get Steel wheels instead of alloys? Im not keen on having to ditch my pretty alloys!!
Any suggestions are appreciated!!!
Cheers,
Lemons
Most people go for the set of steels options as it a) doesn't matter if you slide into a curb with them on, b) the gritted roads won't be eating into your alloys while they're all warm in the garage and c) you can use slightly different (narrower) sizes which saves on money and is better if snow falls.I suppose its sensible to get a new set of wheels and tyres but which tyres are best? Also, is it better to get Steel wheels instead of alloys? Im not keen on having to ditch my pretty alloys!!
Any suggestions are appreciated!!!
Cheers,
Lemons
I've been thinking about winter tyres too, so I wrote up the Sport Auto winter tyre test from 2009. It should at least be a starting point when trying to decide which tyres to go for.
I've owned many sets over the years, on lots of different cars, after reading some European reviews I opted for some Kumho's which were rated in the top 3 but were half the price of mainstream brands. They were next day stocked too. About £38 each too for 15's
They worked brilliantly on our Golf Tdi Estate in the ice & snow (even the deep stuff) they' did about 5k miles this winter & have worn very little indeed. They'll last at least 5 or 6 winters if changed as soon as the frosts stop.
KW23's they are & were as good as any of the winter tyres I've run before & I've run lots of differing ones. The car was as good if not better in the snow than my Landcruiser on all terrain tyres, it stopped a lot better than the Lancruiser did!
This green lane had only been accessed by 4x4's including my Landcruiser but the Golf got up the hill every day for a doggy walk
They worked brilliantly on our Golf Tdi Estate in the ice & snow (even the deep stuff) they' did about 5k miles this winter & have worn very little indeed. They'll last at least 5 or 6 winters if changed as soon as the frosts stop.
KW23's they are & were as good as any of the winter tyres I've run before & I've run lots of differing ones. The car was as good if not better in the snow than my Landcruiser on all terrain tyres, it stopped a lot better than the Lancruiser did!
This green lane had only been accessed by 4x4's including my Landcruiser but the Golf got up the hill every day for a doggy walk
Edited by cptsideways on Monday 23 August 22:29
jon- said:
Most people go for the set of steels options as it a) doesn't matter if you slide into a curb with them on, b) the gritted roads won't be eating into your alloys while they're all warm in the garage and c) you can use slightly different (narrower) sizes which saves on money and is better if snow falls.
How does that affect insurance? Knowing how picky they can be these days, would you not be better off with a second set of alloys with some winter tyres?AlpineWhite said:
jon- said:
Most people go for the set of steels options as it a) doesn't matter if you slide into a curb with them on, b) the gritted roads won't be eating into your alloys while they're all warm in the garage and c) you can use slightly different (narrower) sizes which saves on money and is better if snow falls.
How does that affect insurance? Knowing how picky they can be these days, would you not be better off with a second set of alloys with some winter tyres?
All handbooks will quote tyre sizes for winter tyres, almost always narrower, OE supplied wheels for winter are normally steelies. Being OE spec insurers can't moan as its in the book, type approved the lot.I've just got my winter tyres sorted for the Mondeo.
4x 16" steel wheels, £100 off EBay.
4x 205-55/16 Dunlop Graspic DS3 tyres, £400 off Mytyres
2x tin of paint to tart up surface rust on steelies, £5 from nearby motorfactors
4x fitting of tyres, £40 from local tyre place.
The wheels will also fit a Focus if I decide to get rid of the Mondeo.
I run 205-55/16 steelies during the summer too.
I hope this winter is a bad as last, otherwise I'll be annoyed.
4x 16" steel wheels, £100 off EBay.
4x 205-55/16 Dunlop Graspic DS3 tyres, £400 off Mytyres
2x tin of paint to tart up surface rust on steelies, £5 from nearby motorfactors
4x fitting of tyres, £40 from local tyre place.
The wheels will also fit a Focus if I decide to get rid of the Mondeo.
I run 205-55/16 steelies during the summer too.
I hope this winter is a bad as last, otherwise I'll be annoyed.
I've managed to get my hands on a set of steel rims for my Civic - £45 off eBay. I'm looking at trying out the new Falken Winter tyres - about £55 a corner in my size. www.falkentire.com/Tires/Passenger-Car/Eurowinter-...
As mentioned above, I hope we have some snow now I've gone to all that effort!
As mentioned above, I hope we have some snow now I've gone to all that effort!
Contrary to accepted wisdom, last year I bought a set of the 'cheapest' winter tyres my local tyre fitment place had, and was amazed at just how good they were in comparison to my normal/quality tyres on my other cars. I was repeatedly amazed at the grip/traction I had, especially when nonchalantly breezing past struggling 4x4's (who were obviously still on summer tyres).
Normally I wouldn't advise buying cheap tyres (I've had Nankangs on the rears of a 328i once, it was either great fun or lethal, depending on your viewpoint/skill level) but this was purely as an experiment and as a way of just getting there (slowly if neccesarry) and they proved to far exceed my expectations.
The kind of weather where winter tyres really come into their own, you are unlikely to be doing 'performance' driving anyway.
Normally I wouldn't advise buying cheap tyres (I've had Nankangs on the rears of a 328i once, it was either great fun or lethal, depending on your viewpoint/skill level) but this was purely as an experiment and as a way of just getting there (slowly if neccesarry) and they proved to far exceed my expectations.
The kind of weather where winter tyres really come into their own, you are unlikely to be doing 'performance' driving anyway.
HellDiver said:
2x tin of paint to tart up surface rust on steelies, £5 from nearby motorfactors
Out of interest, what sort of paint are you using for this?I've just picked up a set of 14" steelies from eBay for my Focus and could do with sorting out the surface rust before I get some winter tyres fitted.
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